Apparatus for laying tile



March 20, 1956 E. D. HARPOLD APPARATUS FOR LAYING TILE 2 Sheets-Shee't lFiled Jan. 29 1951 March 20, 1956 E. D. HARPOLD APPARATUS FOR LAYINGTILE Filed Jan. 29, 1951 United States Patent O APPARATUS FOR LAYINGTILE Eddie D. Harpold, Huntington Beach,Calif., assigner to La BolsaTileCo., Huntington Beach, Calif., a corpo.- ration of CaliforniaApplication January 29, 1951, Serial No. 208,323

4 Claims. (Cl. lll- 5) This invention relates to improvement` in tilelaying apparatus and, more particularly, to an apparatus for and methodof laying tiles.

The use of drainage tiles for draining sub-surface waters to prevent thesurface soil from being polluted by salts or alkalis in solution in thesub-surface water is well known in the art. Various types of tiles areutilized to form the drainage systems for such sub-surface water, themost effective being clay tiles having substantially straight ends whichare adapted to be placed in abutting relationship with one another sothat the drainage of sub-surface Water into the tiles is accomplishedbetween the abutting ends of the tiles. Therefore, it .is necessary whenlaying drainage systems constituted by a series of such tiles tomaintain the tiles with their ends in abutting relationship with oneanother so that there is no separation between the ends of the tiles toprevent the contiguous Soil areas from being Washed into the tilesthrough the spaces between adjacent ends of the tiles and thus cloggingthe drainage system constituted thereby. To accomplish this desired end,it is necessary that the tiles be laid in a predetermined position withtheir ends abutting and be maintained in such position while subsequenttiles of the series of tiles are laid. Frequently, when such tiles arelaid by conventional means, gaps between the ends of the tiles occur andthe soil washed through such gaps by the -drainage of underground watersultimately results in the impairment and, eventually, in the completedestruction of the drainage system. However, the ends of the tiles areso cut that when placed in abutting relationship minute intersticesexist between said ends to permit drainage of water into the interiorsof said tiles.

er' ,ICC

2 is maintained in continual and abutting, end-to-end relationship withits adjacent tile and so that the others of said series of tiles aremaintained .in abutting and end-toend relationship until the -ll isreturned to said ditch to hold said tiles in said abutting relationship.

A further object of my invention is the provision of an apparatus of theaforementioned type in which said compressor is constituted by aplurality of rotatable members adapted to engage the periphery of therearmost of a series of tiles at spaced points upon said periphery tourge said rearmost tile into continual and abutting engagement with theend of an adjacent tile.

Another object of my invention is the provision of an apparatus of theaforementioned type in which the compressor is constituted by aplurality of rotatable members adapted toy frictionally engage theperiphery of the rearmost of a series of tiles to urge said rearmosttile into continual and abutting relationship with the end of anadjacent tile.

An additional object of my invention is the provision, in an apparatusof the aforementioned type, of a compressor which includes pivotallymounted, rotatable means adapted to engage the periphery of the rearmostof a series of tiles, said rotatable means being wedged into frictionalengagement with the periphery of the rearmost tile by the rotatingaction of `said rotatable means to insure that said rotatable means willsecurely and continually engage the periphery of said tile.

An additional object of my invention is the provision, in an apparatusof the aforementioned type, of compressor means adapted to urge therearmost of a series of tiles into abutting relationship with anadjacent tile to maintain said series in abutting and end-to-endrelationship which includes a plurality of rotatable members frictionally engaging the periphery of the rearmost of said tiles and spaced atopposite sides of the longitudinal centerline of said rearmost tile.

Another object of my invention is the provision of an apparatus forlaying drain tiles which includes a iirst hopper adapted to deposit alayer of bedding material in a preformed ditch, said hopper beingmounted in a frame which has positioned therein compressor means adaptedto longitudinally urge the rearmost of a series v of tiles depositedupon said layer of bedding material It is, therefore, a primary lobjectof my invention to provide an apparatus for laying drainage tilewhichincludes a frame adapted to be drawn through a preformed ditch andcompressor means adapted to exert a longitudinal force upon the rearmostof a series of tiles to maintain said tile and its adjacent tile inabutting relationship and, thus, to maintain the others of said seriesin a similar abutting relationship. t

A furher object of my invention is the provision of an apparatus forlaying drainage tiles which includes a compressor adapted to engage oneof a series of such tiles and to urge said tile in a linear directiontoward the others of said series so as to maintain the tiles of saidseries in end-to-end and abutting relationship with one another. Afurther object of my invention is the provision of an apparatus of theaforementioned type in which the frame is adapted to be drawn throughthe preformed ditch at a predetermined linear velocity, theaforementioned compressor having a linear velocityv which is somewhatgreater than the linear velocity `of the .frame and which is in adirection opposite to that in which said frame is traveling. t

An additional object of my invention is the prov1sxon of a tile layingapparatus of the aforementioned type in which the compressor means isadapted to maintain a constant and continuous longitudinal pressure onthe rearmost of a series of tiles so that the said rearmost tile tomaintain said tiles `in abutting relationship with one another.

Another object of my invention is the provision of an apparatus forlaying drain tiles which includes a frame having a hopper mountedtherein adapted to deposit a layer of bedding material at the bottom ofa preformed ditch, a shaper adapted to form a longitudinal channel insaid layer of said bedding material, a compressor adapted to maintainthe drain tiles deposited in said longitudinal channel in abutting andend-toend relationship and a second hopper adapted to cover said draintiles with a covering layer of bedding material subsequently to theVdeposition of said drain tiles in said longuitudinal channel.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparentrfrom'thefollowing specification and the accompanying drawings, which are for thepurpose of illustration only, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical, partly sectional, partly elevational view of adrain tile laying apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention;

` Fig. 2 is a transverse, partly sectional view on a larger scale takenfrom the broken line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a partly sectional view,` taken on the broken line 3-3 of Fig.2; a

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view showing the Shaperassociated with the apparatus of my invention;

Pig. Sfis avertieal," sectional' view taken on the broken line -5 ofFig, l;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, partly sectional view of an alternativeembodiment of myinvention;

Figi 8=isa fragmentary," sectionalI view showing 'the abutting ends of'two tiles and the* minute interstrces therebetween.-

Referring to'the drawings, andparticularlyto Fig. l thereof, 'I show adrainy tile layingapparatus 10 constuctedin accordance withjmy inventionand including al ditchingI machine`-12 vSince'the ditching machine 12constitutes no part of the' invention, it will not bedescribedindet'il', it 'beingsuflicient to note that the ditchingmachine 12 is provided with a lcircular ditching wheel 13 havingaplurality yof buckets 14 mounted upon the 'perip'the'r'alL edgeLthereof, said buckets having arcuate blades A15 adapted to preform aditch'16 as theditching machine 12 niove'salon'g'. `'l`h`e"til`e'layingapparatus 10 i'sconn'ec'tedito' the ditching machine 12 by horizontalbeams 17 and is"provid'ed"at its'upper end with straps 18 which areconnected by means of a cable 19 and suitable 'riggingto fa' mast 20mounted on the rearward end of the ditching' machine 12. The cable 19 isused to raise and" lower'the tile laying apparatus 10. The ditchingmachine 12 is' adapted 'to draw the tile laying apparatus throughV thepreformed ditch 16 at a predetermined and'constant speed, the linearvelocity of thermachine 12'being such'that the tile -laying apparatus 10is drawn through the ditchl 16 at a'substantiallyl constant linearvelocity.

The tile laying apparatus 10, as best shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3,includes a frame 22-of substantially rectangular longitudinal andvertical cross section which is formed, in large part, by built up sheetmetal sections 23 reinforced with L-shaped channels 24. The side walls26 and the rear wall 27 of the frame 22 are substantially vertical. Theside walls 26 are provided with radii 29 and'their forward ends areconnected by a transverse toe plate 30 which extends between the walls26 and constitutes the forward wall of the frame. A sole plate ijoinsthe side walls 26 at the bottom of the frame 22, said sole plate beingformedof relatively heavy gage materiall and extending rearwardly forapproximately one-half of the length of the frame along its bottom, theother half of the frame 22 being left open at the bottom for a purposewhich willbedescribed in greater detail below. As the ditching machine12( draws the frame 22 through the preformed ditch 16 on the beams 17,the frame 22 rests, primarily, on the sole plate 31 which engages thebottom ofthe ditch and'whiclrtravcrses the bottom" of said ditch as theframe 22 is drawn along.Y It is contemplatedthat the frame 22 may beassembled by the use of any conventional fastening means, such aswelding, and that the various component parts thereof be rigidlyattached so as to sustain the hard usage incidental to the purpose forwhich it is designed.

Positioned adjacent the front end ofthe frame and adapted to deposit alayer of bedding material, such as gravel, upon the bottom of thepreformed ditch 16 is a first, bedding material distributing means 33which is positioned transversely of the frame'22 vhaving its variouscomponent parts rigidly 'attached between the side walls 26 to supportsaid component parts and'frthe'r rigidity the frame 22. The rst graveldistributing means 33 includ'esa hopper 34 which projects above the topof the frame 22 and is located ata height where gravel or similarbedding material may be conveniently dumped thereinto from the vehiclecarrying the bedding material. The

bottom of the hopper 34 is connected to a conduit 35 having'an angularlydirected'lower portion 36, the lowermost end of which constitutes anangularly oriented bedding material discharge opening-'37. As the frame22 is translated Valong the bottom of the preformed ditch 16 by 4 meansof the ditching machine 12, a continuous stream ofv bedding material isdischarged from the'v discharge opening 37 of the conduit 35 to providea suitable bed for the drainage system which will be described ingreater detail below.

Secured to the rearward side of the angularly directed lower portion 36of the conduit 35 is a seat 39 for the operator of the tile layingapparatus 10. The remainder of the bottom portion of the frame 22rearward of the bedding material discharge opening 37 is open and' thereis disposedy acrossthis open bottom portion of the frame 22 adjacent,but spaced from, the bedding materialy discharge opening 37, a Shaper 40which is constituted by a substantially U-shaped channel member 41 thelower portion of which is configured in a transverse arc and which issupported by means of a transverse L-shaped beam 43 having its oppositeends fastened to the side walls 26.

As the bedding material, in the present instance gravel, is dischargedfrom 'the' discharge opening 37 as indicated at "45,' the Shaper 40engages the gravel 'to form a longitudinal, concave depression 46therein, as best shownl in Fig. 5 ofthe drawings, the concavity of saidlongitudinal depressionf46' approximating the conve'xity of the lowerportion ofthe periphery of a series 48 of tiles 49. In thismanner, thelayer'of gravel is formed into a bed adapted to 'receive the lowermostportions ofthe peripheriesof'the tiles 49 to'seat them firmly inoperative relationship with one another and to insure that lateraldeflections of the tiles will not occur duringthe laying process'. l

Secured'to`the rearward portion of the shaper 40 is a tile receivingmeans 50 which is constituted by a pair of spaced, elongated rods S1attached to said shaper at opposite sides of the centerline thereof. Theelongated rods 51'are'secured tothe extreme lower portion of the Shaper40 sol that tiles 49"deposited thereupon may be urged therefrom, inamanner to be described in greater detail below,into the longitudinaldepression 46 formed in the gravel by the shapcr 40. Located centrallyof the frame 22 andfextending.transversely thereof is a tile shelf 52which has its opposite ends connected to the side walls 26 of the frame.This tile shelf is adapted to receive one or more tiles 449, das bestshown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and can be readily reached by theoperator of the tile laying apparatus to permit the tiles 49 to bedepositedupon the tile receiving means 50.

Disposed immediately below the tile shelf 52 is a uid motor- 54 ofconventional type, said uidrnotor' being connected 'to a source of uidunder pressure by lines 56 and 57. When the linear velocity of the frame22 is changed, vthe-speed ofthe motor is proportionally changed tomaintain the speed ofthe motorv at a higher'rate than the rate of theframe 22. A gear case 58 is associated with vthe-fluid motor'54 and hasdepending therefrom stub shafts 59 and 60- which are rotatable,respectively, f in clockwise and counterclockwise directions, saidlshafts being actuable simultaneously and at the same speed, fora-purpose which will'be described in greater detail below. Secured'tothe stub shafts 59'and 60 respectively, as by means of universal joints61 and 62,v are drive shafts 63and 64, the lowermost ends of which areconnected, respectively', by'me'ans ofiuniversal joints 65 and 66 topropellor shafts67'and 68. The propellor shafts 67'and 68 are-journaled,intermediate'their ends, in bearings 69 and 70'securedto supports 71 and72;

The/'ends of thesupports 71 and 72are, in turn, secured .to vsleevev73f'and 74'which are disposed, respectively, be-

tween spaced `brackets 75 and 76 and are retained therein by pivot pins77 and 78, thus providing pivotal'attach'- ments for thefpropellorshafts67 and-68. Secured to the lowermost ends of the propellor shafts67 and 68 are' rotatablemembers-7-and 80vwhich are constituted, in thepresenteinbodiment of my invention, by means of rollers 81 and 8 2yformedfof' rubber or material having similar resilient'char'acteristicsand having concave peripheries adapted to conform, substantially, to thecontigui-ation of the periphery of a tile 49 at spaced points upon saidperiphery, as best illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The lluidmotor 54, the gear case 58, the drive shafts 63 and 64, and thepropellor shafts 67 and 68 with their associated rollers 81 and 82 andthe pivotal mountings for said propellor shafts constitute thecompressor means 85 of my invention which is adapted to maintain aseries 48 of tiles 49, such as that shown in Fig. 1 of thedrawings, inabutting relationship with one another so that the ends thereof aremaintained in continual contact during the process of laying the tiles.The supports 71 and 72 are thus pivotally mounted to carry the rollers81 and 82 in major orbits of rotation about the pivot pins 77 and 78.Therefore, the rollers 81 and 82 are carried inwardly toward thelongitudinal axis of a tile between them on the supports 71 and 72 bythe rotation of the drive shafts 63 and 64 to cause the rollers 81 and82 to exert a compressive force on the tile transversely of thelongitudinal axis of the tile.

The rollers 81 and 82 constituting the rotatable means or members 79 and80 of the compressor means 85 are rotated, respectively, in clockwiseand counterclockwise directions about minor axes of rotation, asindicated by the arrows 8 6 and S7 in Fig. 3 of the drawings, to exert alongitudinal compressive force on a tile engaged thereby. As has beenpreviously indicated, the speed at which the frame 22 of the tilelayingv apparatus 10 is translated through the preformed ditch 16 ismaintained substantially constant so that it can be said that the tilelaying apparatus 10 is drawn through the preformed ditch 16 at apredetermined constant linear velocity. The peripheral velocities ofpoints on the rollers 81 and 82 are such that, if the peripheralvelocities are converted into linear velocities, the linear velocitiesof the points on the rollers are substantially greater than the linearvelocity at which the tile laying apparatus 10 is `drawn through theperformed ditch 16.` Furthermore, the direction of movement of thelinear velocities of said points on the rollers 81 and 82 is opposite tothe direction in which the tile laying apparatus 10 is moved by theditching machine 12. Therefore, although the rollers 81 and 82 move,respectively,"in clockwise and counterclockwise directions, theresulting movement, as imparted to a tile 49 placed betweensaid rollers,is in a direction contrary to the direction of movement of the tilelaying apparatus 10.

The manner in which the compression means or compressor 85 is utilizedto maintain a series 48 of tiles 49 in constant contiguity and inend-to-end abutting relationship vis illustrated graphically in Figs.1-3 of the drawings wherein the rearmost of a series 48 of tiles 49 isshown as disposed between the rollers 81 and 82 ofthe compressor 85. Inoperating the tile laying apparatus 10, the operator, seated upon theseat 39 therein,'removes one of the tiles 49 from the tile shelf 52 andplaces it upon the longitudinal, elongated rods 51 constituting the tilereceiving means 50 of the tile laying apparatus 10. The tile 49 is thenslipped between the oppositely rotating rollers 81 and 82 whichimmediately frictionally engage the periphery of the tile 49 at spacedpoints upon the tile on opposite sides of the centerline of the tilelaying apparatus 10. As the tile is engaged by the rollers 81 and 82there is a tendency for the rollers to walk along the periphery of thetileuntil they achieve positions where they are wedged against theperiphery of the tile to achieve an optimum frictional engagement withsaid periphery to insure that maximum eiectiveness of the compressor 85will be achieved. The direction of walking movement of the rollers 81and 82 is indicated by the arrows 89 and 90. There is, thus, nonecessity for providing means for biasing the rollers 81 and 82 towardthe periphery of va tile 49 once the rollers 81 and 82 have been broughtinto engagement with the periphery of said tile, the walking action ofthe rollers 81 and 82 serving to press the rollers 81 and 82 against theperiphery `of the tile with such force that it is 81 and 82 toaccommodate for wear and obviates the necessity for replacing therollers after a short period of use. In this way, the rollers 81 and 82can be utilized until practically all of the resilient material has beenworn away. This is a particularly important feature of the inventionsince the tiles 49 have very abrasive exteriors and the wear upon thesurfaces of the rollers 81 and 82 is considerable. In addition, thewedging of the rollers 81 and 82 against the periphery of a tile 49disposed therebetween prevents slippage of the rollers 81 and 82 on theperiphery of the tile and insures that an optimum frictional engagementbetween the rollers and the tile will be achieved.

Simultaneously with the frictional engagement of the rollers 81 and 82upon the periphery of a tile 49 disposed therebetween, the rollers 81and 82 exert a longitudinal force upon the tile urging it into abuttingrelationship with the next adjacent tile and thus maintaining the entireseries of tiles of which the tile between 'the rollers 81 and 82 is therearmost in a state of maximum compression so that the abutting ends aremaintained in contact with one another during the tile laying process.rl`he tremendous force necessary to accomplish this desirable result isonly possible because of the optimum frictional engagement between therollers 81 and 82 and the periphery of the tile 49. By so longitudinallycompressing the rearmost tile 49 of the series 48 toward its adjacenttile, the possibility that gaps between the ends of adjoining tiles mayexist which will permit contiguous soil areas to be washed into theinteriors of the tiles 49 is eliminated, thus providing a moreefficient, long-lived drainage system and obviating the possibility thatthe drainage system will become obstructed by soil washed into theinteriors of the tiles 49 through such gaps.

The minute interstices which exist between the abutting ends ofindividual tiles are best shown in Fig. 8 of the drawing. Sub-surfacewater drain into the tiles through these interstices but they are sosmall as to prevent the passage of soil or gravel particles.

Since the linear velocity of a point on each of the rollers 81 and 82 isgreater than the linear velocity of the tile laying apparatus 10, thedifferential between the linear velocity of said points on the rollers81 and 82 and the tile laying apparatus 10 is responsible for thewedging action of the rollers 81 and 82 against the periphery of a tile49 disposed between said rollers and the longitudinal force exerted uponthe rearmost of the series 48 of tiles 49 to maintain the ends of saidtiles in said series in abutting relationship with one another. This isa very irnportant feature of my invention.

Positioned rearwardly of the compressor means S5 of the tile layingapparatus 16 and extending transversely thereof is a spindle 9?. theopposite ends of which are journaled in pillow blocks 93 and 94 securedto the side walls 26 of the tile laying apparatus 18. Disposed on thespindle 92 is a roll95 of tarpaper or similar material which is adaptedto be drawn from the roll 95 by the forward movement of the apparatus 18to constitute a covering web 96 for the Series 48 of tiles as it islaid. The covering web 96, as best shown in Figs. l and 5 of thedrawings, acts as a membrane to prevent sub-surface waters from washingcontiguous soil areas into the series 48 of drain'tiles 49 and alsoserves, to a certain extent, to maintain the drain tiles 49 incooperative and contiguous relationship with one another after thecompressor means has released the rearmost of the series 48 of Itiles49. v

PositionedA rearwardly of and spaced from the spindle 92 bearing theroll: 95of tarpaper or other covering material is ya second beddingmaterial distributing means 9S whichincludes a hopper 99-which has asubstantially straight vertical conduit 101 positioned below andcommunicating with the lower endfthereof. The opposite edges of thehopper 99 and the conduitv 101 are,A as best shown in Figs. l and 3 ofthe drawings, fastened to the opposite -sides 26 of the frame 22 of thetile laying apparatus i0. Securingthe opposite edges of the hopper 99'Aand the conduit 101 to the opposite side walls 26 of the frame 22materially strengthens and rigidiiies the frame 22, and in additionsimplifies the construction of the second bedding material distributingmeans 98. It will' be noted that, as in the case of the first beddingvmaterial distributing 'means 33, the top of the'hopper 99 is positionedso that bedding` material `mayy be easilyl depositedtherebyfrom thevehicle carrying the bedding material.

The lowermostend of the conduit- 101 constitutes va second beddingmaterial discharge opening 102 and is longitudinally spaced from andvertically spaced above the first bedding material discharge opening^37so that a layer of bedding material is distributed over the covering web95 'subsequently to its being laid over-the tiles 49 of the series 48.In this manner a filter bed 103 of gravel is distributed around theperipheries ofthe tiles 49 and acts as a filter to` prevent largerparticles of the contiguous soilareas from washingA into the drainagesystem constituted by the tiles 49. Shortly after the. second layer ofbedding material has been deposited upon the covering web 96. the backfill 104 is deposited inthe ditch 16 above the second. layer of beddingmaterial deposited by the second bedding material distributing means 98.

When the end of the series-48 of tiles 49 has been reached, a pluggedtile is laid to seal off the series. Then a number of dummy tiles arefed through the compressor 85 to maintain the series 48 in compressionuntil the plugged tile, which is the last of the series, has beencovered up. The compressor 85 is then released and the ends of the tiles49 are maintained in abuttingl relationship with one another.

Considering now= in greater detail, the method bywhich the series 48 oftiles 49 is laid, a rst layer of bedding material is deposited in thepreformed ditch 16 by means of the first bedding material distributingmeans 33 and is subsequently shaped by means of the Shaper 40'into aconfiguration which conforms substantially to the configuration of thelower portions of the tiles 49. After the first layer of beddingmaterial has been so shaped, the tiles 49 are deposited in thelongitudinal depression 46 created by the Shaper 40 and the rearmosttile is engaged by the compressor means S5 to exert a longitudinal forcethereupon to maintain it and concomitantly, the tiles adjacent theretoin a continual state of compression so that the ends of the tiles aremaintained in abutting relationship with one another.

While the tiles 49 are maintained in such relationship, a web of paperor similar material is deposited upon the upper surfaces thereof toprovide a covering which is adapted to prevent the seepage of contiguoussoil into the interiors of the tiles 49. Subsequently a second layer ofbedding material is deposited upon the top of the aforementioned web,said second layer and said first layer cooperating to provide a filterbed adapted to filter out the majority of soil particles from the groundwater as it ows into the interiors of the drain tiles 49. The earth fill104 is then deposited upon the upper surface 0f the lter bed 103 and,upon completion of the fill, the compressor means 85 is released fromthe dummy tiles, as previously described.

Shown in Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings is an alternative embodiment ofmy invention, identical numerals being employedl to designate thoseportions of the present embodiment which are identical with portions ofthe previously discussedembodiment. The alternative embodiment issubstantially identical with the previously vdiscussed embodiment withthe exception that the present embodiment is provided with a bottom walland said wall is arcuately shaped in a transverse direction, as shown inFig. 7, to provide a shaper for the bottom layer of gravel. InV this waythe tiles 49 are supported on the bottom'walli105 until they exit fromthe back of the frame 22.

I thus provide by my invention an apparatus which is adapted to perform,in sequence, all of the operations necessary in the laying of a drainagesystem constituted by a plurality of separate drainage tiles and whichis adapted to perform these operations more effectively and more rapidlythan has been possible with previous types of equipment.

In addition, I also provide by my invention a novel method of layingsuch tiles which insures that the tiles will be maintained in end-to-endand abutting relationship during the laying process so that theexistence of unduly large gaps between the ends of individual tiles willbe obviated.

I claim as my invention:

1. Inan apparatus for laying a series of tiles in endto-end relationshipin a preformed ditch, the combination of: a movable supportingframedisposable in said ditch; and a uid motor mechanism mounted in saidframe, said mechanism including roller means for engaging the end tileof said series of tiles to urge it longitudinally against the end of theadjacent tile and to maintain the ends of said tiles in said series inabutting relationship with one another during the movement of said framepast the tiles, said roller means being mounted for rotation on verticalaxes and for horizontal movement toward and away from engagement withsaid end tile.

2. In an apparatus for laying a series of tiles in endto-endrelationship in a preformed ditch, the combination of: a movablesupporting frame disposable in said ditch, said frame having spaced sidewalls; and a compressor mounted in said frame, said compressor includingroller means for engaging the end tile of said series of tiles, pointson said roller means moving at a linear velocity which is greater thanand in a direction opposite to the velocity of said frame to urge saidend tile longitudinally against the end of the adjacent tile to maintainthe ends of said tiles in said series in abutting relationship with oneanother during the movement of said frame past said tiles, each of saidroller means being mounted for rotation about a minor axis of rotationto exert a longitudinal compressive force on said end tile and beingmounted for movement about a major axisfofv rotation to exert atransverse compressive force on said end tile and to maintain saidroller means in optimum frictional engagement with the periphery of saidtile.

3. In an apparatus for laying'a series of tiles inv endto-endrelationship in a preformed ditch, the combination of a movablesupporting frame disposable in said ditch, said frame having side wallsand an end wall having a tile-discharging opening therein; a hoppercarried by said frame for depositing a layer of bedding material on thebottom of said ditch; a shaper on said frame for contouring said beddingmaterial subsequently to its deposition by said hopper, a compressormounted insaid frame for engaging the end tile of saidseries of tiles tourge it longitudinally against the end of the adjacent tile and tomaintain the ends of said tiles in said series abutting relationshipwith oneanother during the movement of said frame past said tiles, saidcompressor including rotatable means secured to said side walls and'disposed intermediate the ends thereof below the upper edge of saidtile-discharging opening; and means for depositing a covering web onsaid series of tiles while said tiles are maintained inabuttingrelationshipv by said compressor.

4. In an apparatus for layingv a series of tiles in endto-endrelationship in a preformed ditch, the combination of: a frame adaptedto be rigidly suspended from said apparatus and to project downwardly in:said ditch; means for supporting said apparatus with the framemaintained in definite relationship with the sides and bottom of saidditch and moving said apparatus along the axis of the ditch; a supportrigidly secured to said frame `and projecting from said frame in adirection opposed to the direction of travel of said apparatus, saidsupport being so situated that an operator can place a tile thereon withthe tile in a position to be moved directly into accurate alignmentvwith a previously laid tile; a pair of rollers having concave resilientperipheral surfaces which are adapted to engage the sides of a tile asthe tile is slipped from the support toward the previously laid tile; auid motor mechanism carried on said apparatus; two vertical ilexibleshafts which are driven by said motor and each of which carries anddrives one of said rollers in a direction of rotation suited, uponcontact with the tile, to drive the tile' away from the frameta bearingfor the lower end of 10 each of said shafts; and a support for each ofsaid bearings, each support being rigidly secured at one end to itsbearing, and extending diagonally with relation to the axis of the tile,the other end of said support being pivoted to said frame.

References Cited inthe ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 332,126White Dec. 8. 1885 536,339 Hanneborg Mar. 26, 1895 1,030,283 Coda June25, 1912 1,174,271 Perry Mar. 7, 1916 1,463,561 v Sommer July 31, 19231,600,701 Sommer Sept. 21, 1926 1,638,343 Knudsen Aug. 9, 1927 1,792,855McRae Feb. 17, 1931 1,921,764 McGirr Aug. 8, 1933

